Nadal’s wrist needs ‘a little more time’
new york — As Rafael Nadal stood near the net at the US Open after winning his first Grand Slam match in three months, he unravelled the thick wrap of white tape protecting his all-important left wrist and then clutched at that arm with his right hand.
Sure, there were matches that provided more drama or surprises on Day 1 at Flushing Meadows.
Nothing, though, was as meaningful when it comes to what could go on over the next two weeks as how 14-time major champion Nadal’s wrist felt dur- ing and after a relatively straight- forward 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Denis Istomin.
The match was played at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the new $150 million retractable roof remained open under a blue sky.
The good news, Nadal said afterward, is that the pain is gone from the part of his body that whips those violent, topspin-heavy forehands that are the key to his success — 14 of his 21 winners came off that wing. The bad news for Nadal? He still is working on feeling comfortable hitting down-theline forehands, in particular, after sitting out — not just zero real matches, but barely any practice, either — from his withdrawal at the French Open in late May to the Olympics this month.
“Not easy to go 2½ months out of competition, in the middle of the season, without hitting a forehand,” Nadal said. “I need to have the confidence again with my wrist.”
Both Nadal and his coach, Uncle Toni, described the way Rafael changed the way he hits a forehand during the Rio Games to try to avoid pain. Both said things are improving. But as Toni noted: “We need a little time.”
Nadal’s summation of his day: “Not very good; not very bad.”
Uncle Toni’s take? “I hope every day we can play a little bit better.” — AP